ARLINGTON, Texas -- Elijah Johnson has been around the block a few times, and he's seen more than a few top-notch guards.

The Kansas senior point guard was asked Thursday if Michigan sensation Trey Burke ranks up there with some of the best he's ever faced.

Johnson, not sure exactly what to say, shrugged his shoulders and offered a simple reply.

We'll see.

"I really haven't played against him," Johnson said Thursday. "I honestly feel like watching him on film can be deceiving. For some reason I have that feeling. Because it looks like (the game is coming to him) in slow motion.

"But I'm pretty sure it's different being out there with him. He looks comfortable ... I guess the sky's the limit for him, I can't put a ceiling on how good he is or how good he'll be. But as far as who I've played against? I guess he has a chance to be one of the best ones."

Burke is the Big Ten Player of the Year, the Sports Illustrated National Player of the Year and a first-team All-American on basically everyone's list.

He's Michigan's leader, and its most important player.

Kansas will attack Burke with physical guards in the 6-foot-4 Johnson and 6-foot-5 senior Travis Releford.

Two players who have been around the block a time or two, and two guys who really aren't afraid of how many awards Burke has in his trophy case.

"If I can slow him down, then I can slow down Glenn (Robinson III), I can slow down the whole team," Johnson acknowledged. "They can't run without him getting out and doing it."

This isn't the first time Burke's had a target on his back in a game. In fact, it's pretty much been there since the midway point of his freshman season.

And though Kansas will throw two extremely experienced players at him Friday (7:37 p.m., TBS), Burke says he'll be prepared.

"I try to play off what the defense gives me," he said. "Just watching a lot of film on Kansas I see that they're really a good defensive team.

"I'll have to just try to find ways to attack their defense and try to find ways to get into the paint and hit the open defenders."

Kansas coach Bill Self has already stated that he voted for Burke as the national player of the year, and together with Tim Hardaway Jr., he believes Michigan has the best backcourt his team will see this season.

But Kansas' senior duo believes its pretty good, too.

Starting on the defensive end -- where they're not about to give an inch with their careers on the line.

"You sort of want it to happen right now in the last run," Johnson said. "But you can't just wish for things to happen, you've got to kind of go make it happen."